Jamie requested hot dogs and eggs for breakfast. Yuk!
I opted for potatoes and onions. Yum!
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July 2011
July 31, 2011
July 29, 2011
That's Italian
An event like this literally takes days to plan and prepare. From grocery shopping, menu planning, calling family for their secret recipes (and then secretly adding my own touch, cuz that's the way I roll) to determining the timing for everthing is essential to the success of your party. Even with all this attention to detail, invariably, something will not work out just the way you planned. That's ok. People who love you will still love you any way. So enjoy. Cook with freedom and wreckless abandon.
GETTING READY
The meatball assembly line...
La Pasta Italia (www.lapastaitalia.com)
Quality ingredients are the key to a successful meal. If there is something you cannot make yourself or do not have the time to make then you have to find the right resource. When that happens I go to a quality Italian market to get what I need . La Pasta Italia in Grand Terrace is my "go to place" for home made ravioli and the best cannolis I've ever had on the west Coast. Walt Stanckiewitz and his family own this deli/market and they serve top quality food items at their lovely eatery. Their place is beautifully decorated with hand-painted murals and they have everything you'll need to cook the "Italian way".
La Pasta Italia began as a pasta factory located in an industrial center on Michigan Street in Grand Terrace. Owners and operators, Walt and Monique Stanckiewitz made fresh pasta products and ravioli for some of the finest restaurants in the Inland Empire of Southern California. Some of their customers include Mario's Place, The Mission Inn, Rosa's Fine Italian Dining, New York Grille, Ciao Bella, Lake Arrowhead Resort, The Cafe Allegro's and Spaggi's. At the end of the production day any extra pasta left over was sold to the public as overruns out of the front office. Demand for the overruns far exceeded output and soon Monique was making extra pasta. It wasn't long before the front office became a little store. It was only a few years later that the Deli was born to accommodate demand for additional Italian products.
After 13 years in the industrial district, La Pasta Italia relocated to a larger building in a retail center. Not only did shopping space expand, but so did their menu. The market still sells ravioli (over 15 types), lasagna, and other fresh pasta products, as well as the very best grinders around! Now you can stop by for the items you need for lunch and dinner or you can eat with us. Our expanded market menu includes Italian products and specialty items. Our philosophy ... "If you don't see it, ask us to get it. We are excited to be able to provide the items you need for that perfect meal". While we were there Walt personally took the time to show me exactly how to prepare his delicious "canoli's" for our family dinner. I love his motto, "To live good is to eat good, Bon Appetito!"
Go to Walt's website for more info and directions on how to get to his Deli/Market. (www.lapastaitalia.com)
Plus, you are welcomed by Walt (who also doubles as the real Mayor of Grand Terrace) and his lovely familia.
Jamie and Walt...
Deb, and the girls...
Walt showing us how to make the cannoli...
Speciality food items I remember as a kid...I loved Brioschi. Kidna like Pop Rocks, but with no flavor!
Lupini Beans (How about a little Chianti and Fava Bean any one???)
La Familia...
Back Seat Driver...shut up guy!!!!
The eggplant begins to take shape...
Growing up we were poor. When I was in high school and my mom and dad were both working (around 1974ish) my parents only made $80 a week each. Can you imagine! There was not a lot of money left over for extras. But, my mom always had a wholesome meal for us and it was always delish. Simple ingredients, but when put together with her expert hands, well it was a master piece. Chicken Caccitore was one of her dishes. Here is my spin on her traditional rustic chicken dish with potatoes...
Sausage Bread. Always a hit at parties and so simple to make...
Who made the salad???
Shhhhh....The Secret Sauce! The secret is I don't even know the secret. I make it different every time...
Sfingi is an Italian style donut. I remember my Aunt Emma making these at family holidays...
Dessert anyone???
La Familia...My family...
I love the laughter between my Aunt Millie and Lynda. When Lynda was leaving she reminisced about how she had forgotten how funny Aunt Millie is. Here is the evidence...
Aunt Millie in her cool cap...
Briana and friend...
Harley begging from grandma...
I love the smiles on their faces...
Grandma's girl...
A little girl talk...
Aunt Millie's little girl...
What a beauty!!!!
Jamie and Ted...
Alyssa, Deb and Jayne...
The girls and Harley...
Three women...
Sisters...
My boy...
Whitney Clan Beach Day
Jamie has been working hard to be in good shape for his upcoming surf trip with the boys. He has found a new surf groupie, namely, Drew. Yesteday, Jamie met up with the Whitney clan for a day at the beach.
July 27, 2011
July 24, 2011
Ride On!!!
Year ago, Karen and I were single, free and in shape! One of our favorite things to do was ride bikes. It has been years, literally since we have taken to the road. Today, Jamie, Karen and I did a ride along the Santa Ana River Bottom. Beautiful day. And, just like years gone by...I still eat her dust. She is really a great rider.
July 23, 2011
Whitney Party 2011
As we have done for many years now, we gather all the Whitneys down at Jimmy and Terri's home for our annaul Whitney Summer Party. Jim fires up the Barbie Q and Terri does an amazing job of preparing all the food for us to eat. We usually end up playing a fun game of water basketball in the pool. This year my sweet cousin Miriam Rice from Washington State flew down and joined us as a special guest. She really enjoyed al the festivities and visiting with all the Whitneys. Here are some photo highlights!
"Let's Go Surfin' With The Grandkids!"
Recently I went surfing and took my two grand kids Drew and Nate with me. Those are always special days for me because my son Jeff will usually come along with us too. We always have a great time together riding waves and enjoying the ocean on a hot summer day. Last week was no different. We drove to Doheny State Beach and spents a few hours out in the water together. Nathan being the youngest likes to ride his Boogie board but this time he paddled out together on his Dad's longboard as a tandem rider. He and Jeff took off on a wave together and Nate actually stood up with his big Papa guiding the surfboard. You should have seen the big grins they had on their faces.
A close family friend, Brett Mosher, came along on this trip and he did the same thing only with Drew riding as his tandem partner. It was really exciting for me to watch them all catching waves together and having fun. I was out there on my own surfboard riding along with them but I really wished I had remembered to go in to get my camera to take a couple of pictures of all this but sadly I did not. However, I am going to post a series of pictures from days long past that show how these boys have been growing up right before our eyes.
A couple of summers later.........
And this one was taken last Thursday....July 21, 2011
This next pic is of my former 6th grade student, long time surf buddy, rook partner, fellow teacher and a very, very special close friend Brett Mosher. When I was about 36 years old both Jeff and Brett were in elementary school and I began taking them surfing with me whenever I went down to the beach. Brett is now 36 years old himself. And the beat goes on..........
The Rook Tournament
Recently Jeff organized a Rook tournament game night with the boyz. The original crew consists of Jeff, Brett, Jon and myself. We started playing this game whenever we went camping at the beach or down in Mexico. We all are serious about winning and this year Jeff scored the best among us so he now has "bragging rights" until we meet again and try to "de-throne" him. As the Beatles says in one of their songs..."a splendid time is guaranteed for all!" Kudos to Tara for going out and picking up our dinners for us. An order of "tasty Euros" with a side of zucchini from Bravos was the highlight in the food department.
And the Winner is....
During the summer we had a party and everyone planted tomatoes. I promised I would post the winner of the tomato growing contest.
And the winner is!!!!
Grandma Patty. Look at this haul!!!!
Carnival
Today was Hayden, Noah and Henry's birthday party. They are Jon and Robyn's triplets, yes, triplets. They pulled out ALL the stops for a fun-filled 1st birthday party with a Carnival theme. Here are some highlights of the day...
Patty and Ron having fun!
Jon and Robyn set up this amazing table filled with candy and goodie bags. The kids had a blast filling up the bags with candy...
Jon getting ready for the guests...
Jamie has known Jon since he was in the third grade. He is like a son to Jamie. Most evenings on Jon's way home from work they talk about current events and life events. Such an amazing friendship...
I fell in love with the hamburger cooker. Such a great personality!!!
Grandma's girls...
Ron and Jason...
Here is Doug and Drew. Everyone said Drew was taller, but I am not sure based on this picture. Anyway, they are both close to 6' tall!!!!
Tara and Billie. They look like sistas!
Nate Dog...
The Boys...
Here come the birthday boys...
Robyn's mom and sis...
Jamie gave Hayden a french fry and bounced him on his knee. Just after, Hayden spit up all over Jamie's shoes...
Tara getting Henry to smile...
Summer and Jon...
They had the best face painter I have ever seen at a party!!!
Strike a pose...
Time for cake!!!
Cousins...
Bathing beauties...
You are the one. We are the two.
Thank you Jon and Robyn for letting us share in this special day, we love you!!!!
